HISTORIA YA PAROKIA

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PARISH HISTORY a). Parish Location Amani Parish is located in the middle of eastern Usambara Mountains. The parish is surrounded by a number of tea plantations. There is only one country road, which connects many rural roads from various tea plantations and area villages. Then this road connects this area with the village of Bombani at the foot of the mountain and then to Muheza Township. b). Its Origin Amani parish was originally an outstation of Muheza Parish. Rev. Fr. Jackie Reid, I.C who was the priest in-charge of Muheza Parish, founded Amani Parish. In 1970s Fr. Reid started to build a church in Amani. The construction of the church was completed in early 1985. Bishop Maurus Komba consecrated the church in May 27, 1985. Fr. Reid then started to build the priest house (rectory), which has now been turned into the sisters’ convent. c). People of Amani Parish Indigenous people in Amani area are the Sambaa. There are many other people from other parts of Tanzania who came to work in the tea plantations, Amani Malaria Research center and the school system. Local people engage in small scale farming of spices and many other agricultural crops. d). Transition In 1996 the Rosminian missionary priests handed over the parish to the diocese and the bishop appointed Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Baruti (R.I.P) to be the first diocesan priest to head this parish. e). Current Developments Since his ministry in Amani Parish, Fr. Baruti (R.I.P) had been very instrumental in transforming the parish to higher level of ministries. He had opened a very attractive spiritual center open to all people to come and spiritually renew themselves. f). COLU Sisters in the Parish There is a team of sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of Usambara who ministers in this parish. Their ministry in this parish is very vital and continues to brighten the spirit of the Gospel in this area. g). Native Priests Up to this moment there is no native priest from this parish.

a). Mahali Ilipo Parokia
Parokia ya Amani ipo katika milima ya Usambara mashariki. Parokia hii imejengwa katikati ya mashamba ya zao la chai. Ipo barabara moja ndogo ambayo ni kiungo kikubwa cha barabara zitokazo mashamba ya chai na vijiji vya wananchi kwenda Bombani na hatimaye kuufikia mji wa Muheza.

b). Chimbuko la Parokia
Hapo awali parokia ya Amani ilianza kama kigango cha parokia ya Muheza. Parokia hii ilianzishwa na mheshimiwa padre Jackie Reid, I.C. aliyekuwa paroko wa parokia ya Muheza. Katika miaka ya 1970, padre Reid alianza parokia hii kwa kujenga jengo la kanisa. Ujenzi wa kanisa ulikamilika mwaka 1985.Baba Askofu Maurus Komba alilibariki jengo hili la Kanisa Mei 27, 1985. Padre Reid baadaye aliendelea kujenga nyumba ya mapadre na hatimaye nyumba ya masista.

c). Wakazi wa Amani
Wenyeji halisi wa maeneo ya Amani ni wa-Sambaa. Pamoja na hivi bado kuna watu wengi wa bara ambao walifika katika nchi ya Amani kufanya kazi katika mashamba ya chai, na wengine wataalamu kufanya kazi katika kituo cha utafiti wa ugonjwa wa malaria na wengine katika taasisi za elimu. Wenyeji wengi wamezamia katika ukulima wa viungo vya chakula na mazao mengine ya chakula na biashara.

d). Kipindi cha Mpito
Katika mwaka 1996,wamisionari waki-Rosmini ambao ndio waliofanya uinjilishaji katika parokia hii tangu mwanzo wake, waliikabidhi parokia hii kwa askofu wa jimbo ambaye alimtuma mheshimiwa padre Stanistalaus Baruti (R.I.P) kuwa paroko wa kwanza mzalendo.

e). Maendeleo katika Parokia
Tokea siku za mwanzo wa utume wake pale Amani, mheshimiwa padre Baruti (R.I.P) alikuwa mvumbuzi mkubwa wa kuboresha uchungaji katika eneo hili. Padre Baruti alifungua kituo kikubwa na kizuri cha maisha ya kiroho ambacho kinaendelea kuwaalika wakazi mahalia na wageni kuweza kupata utulivu mzuri wa maisha ya kiroho.

f). Utume wa Masista wa COLU
Parokiani Amani wapo masista wa shirika la Mama Yetu wa Usambara (COLU) ambao wanatoa huduma za kichungaji wakishirikiana na padre. Uwepo wao parokiani hapo ni chachu kubwa ya Injili.